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"There is no excellent beauty that hath not some strangeness in the proportion" Francis Bacon 1561-1626

Friday, 18 October 2013

A Goldfinch Nest Sketch

In between learning more about printmaking, hatching plans and projects and ideas for next year I am getting back to some observed drawing.

I have to say that autumn is not my favourite season. The approaching restrictions and constrictions of dark and cold just don’t suit me and I hate these darkening nights. But there are a few compensations, such as wonderful seed pods and fruits, beautiful curling dried leaves and the odd dislodged bird's nest.

Down by the reservoir I found this tiny little nest. There is nothing much to it really, just a shallow, carefully woven, dish with a downy centre. It's made from grasses and sheep's wool with a little moss here and there...and a tiny feather still attached.

I think it is the remains of a goldfinch nest.

It seems an impossibly small and insubstantial family home and as goldfinches apparently build their nests towards the ends of branches it seems even more precarious.

Two small pen and ink sketches 4”x 2.5”

Goldfinch Nest Sketch: pencil and watercolour 10 x 5”

The goldfinches are delightful. We see them swoop from teasel to teasel in the late summer.